Hack It Out Golf
Golf Swing Productions by Mark Crossfield Greg Chalmers and Lou Stagner
We dive deep into golf, sharing expert insights to help you improve your golf swing and lower your scores. Renowned golf coach Mark Crossfield, stats expert Lou Stagner, and PGA Tour player Greg Chalmers join forces to bring you an engaging, informative, and entertaining show dedicated to all things golf. Your game will improve, and you will have a lot of laughs along the way listening to the banter of these three friends. Whether you're a seasoned pro or beginner golfer, this podcast is your ultimate resource for enhancing your skills and unlocking your full potential on the golf course.Join Mark Crossfield, a highly respected and sought-after golf coach, as he shares his extensive knowledge and experience in the sport having given many thousands of golf lessons to golfers of every skill level. Through in-depth discussions and engaging anecdotes, Mark guides you through the intricacies of the golf swing, unraveling the mysteries and helping you understand the nuances that can make all the difference in your performance on the golf course.Lou Stagner, our resident stats expert, brings a unique perspective to the podcast. He breaks down the numbers and provides you with invaluable statistical analysis that will empower you to make more informed decisions on the golf course. Learn how to leverage data to assess your strengths and weaknesses, strategize your game plan, and gain a competitive edge.But that's not all – we have the privilege of having PGA Tour Player Greg Chalmers on board. Greg shares his firsthand experiences and insights from competing at the highest level of professional golf. Hear his stories, learn from his successes and failures, and gain a glimpse into the mindset and discipline required to excel on the PGA Tour.Each episode of the Hack it Out Golf Podcast is packed with practical golf lessons, actionable tips, and strategies to improve your golf swing, enhance your accuracy, and optimize your overall performance. From mastering the fundamentals to refining advanced techniques, we cover it all. Whether you're looking to straighten out your drive, hone your short game, or improve your putting, our expert panel is here to guide you every step of the way and improve your golf game. We will help you to learn how to gain better control over your golf ball not only in practice, but out on the golf course.In addition to the practical golf lessons we provide, we also do preview and recap shows for the biggest events in golf. We cover the four major championships (The Masters at Augusta National, The US Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship). We also cover the Ryder Cup, The Presidents Cup and other current events in the world of golf on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf. We also have in-depth chats on some of the biggest names in golf like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.So, grab your clubs and tune in to the Hack It Out Golf podcast. Let us be your trusted companions on this golfing journey, as we equip you with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration you need to take your golf game to the next level. Get ready to swing for success and experience the thrill of reaching new heights on the golf course.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 12, 2026 • 23min
Rule Changes on the PGA Tour
With the start of a new PGA Tour season, it's a good time to catch up with rule changes for this year's play. In this episode, Lou and Mark talk about changes to preferred lies and embedded ball rules, unintentional ball movement, obstructions and internal OB, and distance measuring devices.
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5 snips
Jan 10, 2026 • 14min
SMS - Tour Pro, 15 Yards in Rough, More Than 10 Feet
Mark and Lou explore the statistics behind a Tour Pro chipping from 15 yards in rough, revealing that 36% of the time, their chip lands more than 10 feet from the hole. They discuss how expectations can skew our understanding of chipping skill and why listeners often miss the mark on stats. Practical tips for applying these insights to your own game are highlighted, making it clear that even pros face challenges. It's a fun, data-driven dive into improving your golf game, all while keeping things light-hearted!
Jan 8, 2026 • 35min
Making Practice Better
Exploring effective practice methods can transform your golf game! Hosts discuss how many golfers struggle with poor practice habits and the importance of structured routines, especially seen in tour professionals. They highlight the benefits of varying shots and clubs to improve skills. Golfers are encouraged to match practice with their skill level and gamify sessions for engagement. The focus on external cues during practice can also lead to quicker improvements. Quality over quantity is emphasized for achieving better results on the course.
Jan 5, 2026 • 25min
What Does It Mean to Swing Fast?
With modern launch monitors, it's pretty easy to tell who swings fastest—you just measure it. But what about relative speed? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk speed potential and efficiency. Which of the three of them swings the fastest relative to their potential? Which swings fastest on the course relative to their current top end? And what do these differences mean for typical golfers trying to play our best game, especially off the tee?
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3, 2026 • 15min
SMS - Scratch, 125 in Fairway, Shots to Finish Hitting vs Missing Green
You already know it: hitting more greens in regulation is the key to better scores. But how much difference does it make? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark to compare the scores a scratch golfer will make when he hits vs misses the green from 125 in the fairway. And this one is a performance for the history books for one of the two competitors.
Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can apply this on the golf course to lower your scores and lower your handicap.
Listen on your drive to the golf course or over your Saturday morning coffee!
Data is sourced from Arccos Golf. They have over 1 BILLION shots in their database.
Check them out at:
https://www.arccosgolf.com/
Use code MARK15 for 15% off!
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 1, 2026 • 32min
Pathways to the PGA Tour
The limited routes to be able to play on LIV have been much-discussed, but is the PGA Tour headed in a similar direction? In this episode, Greg, Mark, and Lou discuss changes to the PGA Tour qualifying. How should qualification through the Korn Ferry Tour, the DP World Tour, and Q-School be weighted?
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2025 • 30min
2025 Golf Year in Review
The year of Scottie? Or of Rory? Or of the Greggie? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg look back at the big golf stories of 2025, from Rory's history-clinching win at Augusta to Scottie's sustained dominance. They also look ahead: will Tiger be willing to face Greg on the Champions Tour, battling to decide who is golf's true Needle?
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2025 • 18min
SMS - Length of Holes for 10 Index to Average Par
Today's episode belongs in the Expectations Hall of Fame. How long would a par 3, a par 4, and a par 5 need to be for a 10-index player to average par on each? Lou puts this question to Mark and Greg. The answer gives these golfers a good reference point for expected scoring, and a mental game that is set up to score best on these "short" holes.
Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can apply this on the golf course to lower your scores and lower your handicap.
Listen on your drive to the golf course or over your Saturday morning coffee!
Data is sourced from Arccos Golf. They have over 1 BILLION shots in their database.
Check them out at:
https://www.arccosgolf.com/
Use code MARK15 for 15% off!
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 25, 2025 • 30min
Greggie as Quizmaster
In today's episode, Greg's stat internship has ended and he is now in the quizmaster's seat! Rather than a deep dive into the Arccos database, Greg pulls from a recent charity golf event to ask Lou and Mark about how often these charitable golfers came up short on a par 3 hole with some wind. Can Lou win at his own game? And how can we get better by just being more aware of what the hole is asking of us?
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 22, 2025 • 23min
When the Wheels Fall Off
You're playing with Greg and make the turn playing far better than normal. What's your mindset? In this episode, Greg tells a recent story just like this, and Mark and Lou talk about how recreational golfers handle the pressure of playing well—especially given the statistical odds that it might all come crashing down. Here are tips to strengthen your mental game to keep your next good round rolling.
Where to find us:
Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe
Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline
Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline
Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe
Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner
Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA
The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
